Black-browed albatross description

Albatrosses are one of the most marine of all birds, traversing the oceans of the southern hemisphere, and only returning to land to breed. They belong to the family of ‘tube-noses’, related to petrels, shearwaters and fulmars (2). The black-browed albatross is a large bird, although not amongst the largest members of their family, and are predominantly white beneath, with a dark border around the underwing. Above, the upperwing is dark grey and the bird appears as a black and white cross at a distance. The bill is yellow with a darker orange tip, and there is a dark eye-stripe, giving the birds their common English name. The sexes appear similar (4). Juvenile birds are similar to adults but have grey bills and a grey collar, as well as a dusky underwing (2).

Related species

Black-browed albatross biology

Albatross are known to be amongst some of the longest-lived birds and the black-browed can continue to breed up to an age of 35 years (4). Adults become mature at seven years old and, having found a mate, will pair for life (4).

The birds usually return to the same nesting site each September and a single egg is laid the following month. The incubation period lasts nearly two months and the chick stays on the nest until late March or early April (4).

Black-browed albatross feed on fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans but will also take floating carrion if they find it (5). Albatrosses are also known as ‘Mollymawks’ across much of their range (4).

Black-browed albatross range

The black-browed albatross is a bird of the southern oceans, and breeds on various islands throughout this extensive region. The principal islands are: the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic; the Indian Ocean islands of Crozet, Kerguelen and the Heard and McDonald Islands; the Southern Pacific islands of Islas Diego Ramirez, Ildefonso, Diego de Almagro and Isla Evangelistas off the coast of Chile; Macquarie Island (administered by Australia), and Campbell, Antipodes and Snares islands south of New Zealand (5). Black-brows also occur as a vagrant in the North Atlantic and individual birds have spent summer months on gannet colonies in Scottish waters (2).

Species with a similar range

Black-browed albatross habitat

For much of the year, black-browed albatrosses are pelagic, spending months on end at sea (2). To breed, they choose islands having steeply sloping coasts with tussock grass, although they will nest on cliffs and on level shores (5).

Black-browed albatross status

Black-browed albatross threats

The greatest threat to this species is thought to be the increase in by-catch as a result of long-line sea fishing in the southern oceans, especially along the Patagonian shelf off the east coast of Argentina and Uruguay (5). An estimated 60 percent of the total breeding population of around 530, 000 individuals breed on the Falkland Islands and another 20 percent on South Georgia (5). The Falklands population has declined by almost a third during the last two decades, most of this within a period of five years to 2001 (5). Much of this decline is blamed on an increase in long-line fishing in the surrounding seas, but the black-browed albatross is at risk from this practice throughout its range. It is one of the most frequent victims of both long-line and trawler fishing in the southern hemisphere (5).

Black-browed albatross conservation

As a result of fears over its declining population, the IUCN has upgraded the status of the black-browed albatross to ‘Endangered’ (1). On the basis of the losses at the birds’ chief breeding sites, it is calculated that it will have declined by around 65 percent during the next 65 years and by more than 50 percent throughout the rest of its range over the same period (5).

Monitoring of the birds’ breeding continues, and the fleets of those countries that regularly fish these waters are being encouraged to monitor bird by-catch and pursue safer fishing methods to minimise accidental netting of this species (5).

Authentication

Glossary

By-catch

The accidental capture of non-target species in the fishing industry.

Carrion

The flesh of a dead animal.

Colonies

A group of organisms living together, individuals in the group are not physiologically connected and may not be related, such as a colony of birds. Another meaning refers to organisms, such as bryozoans, which are composed of numerous genetically identical modules (also referred to as zooids or ‘individuals’), which are produced by budding and remain physiologically connected.

Crustaceans

Diverse group of arthropods (a phylum of animals with jointed limbs and a hard chitinous exoskeleton) characterised by the possession of two pairs of antennae, one pair of mandibles (parts of the mouthparts used for handling and processing food) and two pairs of maxillae (appendages used in eating, which are located behind the mandibles). Includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, slaters, woodlice and barnacles.

Embed this ARKive thumbnail link ("portlet") by copying and pasting the code below.

Terms of Use - The displayed portlet may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. It may NOT be used within Apps.